What is a Virtual Server..?

A Virtual Server is a server software environment often exactly the same as what you are used to having in your business, for example Windows Server 2008. The main difference is that this software environment lives on an IT provider's server hardware, at a remote data centre location.

A customer business will then use the virtual server environment via their Internet connection, but other aspects of using the server are the same as if the server hardware was sitting in the back room of the customer business. So really its the same as having your own server, but with less hassle and complexity, and less or zero capital cost.

 When properly designed, this type of solution can give you increased safety, reduced costs, and improved environmental footprint.

What are the benefits to a Virtual Server..?

We understand that these newer concepts require some explanation, and there is no such thing as a silly question. Please contact us for a candid and no-obligation chat if these pointers don't explain it for you adequately.

• No up front capital cost to purchase server hardware.  Over 40 million has been spent on the datacentre and virtual server hardware. We buy the hardware, but you get to use it without buying anything.
   
• No hardware replacement charges. There is no such thing as a 'Server Replacement' invoice anymore, and if you're about to ask for one, you should reconsider.  The normal 3-5 year server refesh cycle is thankfully dead for 95% of businesses, as all can now tap into an unlimited amount of server power, and upgrade that instantly as required, with no capital outlay and no long-winded projects.
   
• Simple predictable monthly payments with no extra or surprising costs.  Pay for the amount of computing power you need RIGHT NOW (hardware and software), without worrying about the future. If you need an upgrade later, one phone call and a 10 minute process will make that happen immediately. 
   
• Your own helpdesk to support the system and your staff.  The nature of computing is that it requires support and care.  Our Support Team delivers this, and have the answers to your questions, no matter what it relates to. One call to solve it all.
   
• High Availability (What is High-Availabitliy and why is it important..?)  NEVER engage in Cloud Computing without protection.
   
• Current software and free upgrade paths to latest versions as they are released.  Sick of the constant software upgrade merry-go-round. So is everyone else. Fortunately around 70% of the software that businesses use the most is now available on per user, per month pricing, with free upgrades to the latest versions. This means that you never have to fork out for an upgrade as you'll always have the latest for version of Microsoft and other vendor's software products. (All software will soon go this way.)
   
• Access your system from anywhere in the world.  Our technology says that you can work exactly the same way from the office, from home or from the beach.  We can guarantee that the facilities will work perfectly for you at every location...we can't guarantee you'll feel like working while you're at the beach however.
   
• Multiple branch offices without complex infrastructure. The old days of the "central office" are dying.  As IT infrastructure moves into the Cloud, there is increasingly less reasons to have all major operations happening at head office.  Any office can be anywhere, and can have the same conputing power and computing experience as any other office.

If this is sounding interesting, or just plain blowing your mind, it's time to have a no-obligation chat to us to find out more.

Hosted Virtual Servers Versus In-house Servers:

 
Owning Your Servers:

With a traditional server methodology where a business buys and maintains their own server infrastructure, they have to:
 
1. Pay the upfront capital cost for the equipment, which includes:

• Server hardware with sufficient levels of redundancy
• Software (e.g. Operating systems, antivirus, backup software)
• Backup hardware (e.g. tape drive, external hard drives)
• UPS power protection and battery backup for the server

2. Maintain the equipment themselves by hiring IT staff, or outsourcing the IT management to an IT firm. (IT Leaders has provided these outsourced IT services since 2002 - www.itleaders.com.au)
 
3. Buy and maintain quality PCs for their network and look to the future

• A poorly performing PC will result in lower productivity for expensive human resources.
• Keep analysing the features and benefits of new server and PC technology and upgrade where a benefit  seems to be worthwhile.

 
 
An example of our hosted Virtual Server solution:
 
Your virtual server will live on Leading Cloud's server farm, built on highest quality, industrial-strength Hewlett Packard 'Blade' servers and SAN storage, with multiple fail-over facilities to ensure maximum uptime of your servers
 
All required software licences for the Windows Server operating system, antivirus licences and Office licences are included in your monthly fee and instantly expandable or upgradeable.

Backup systems (onsite and offsite) for all your data are maintained by us - with an optional secondary backup back to your office via the Internet.

Security of your data is (with no exaggeration) massively higher than your in-house servers.  Gas fire suppression, VESDA smoke detection, motion sensors, biometric entry technology, bomb proof & bullet proof facilities, key locked cabinets, 24x7 human monitoring, and a raft of other features makes our data centres about a billion times more secure and safe than your office environment.
 
Leading Cloud's team of highly skilled engineers looks after our cloud servers with regular maintenance and 24x7 performance monitoring. We can also extend support to cover all of your staff and equipment in your offices so that no matter what the technology issue is, we can provide the answer promptly.
 
And the savings keep coming...

The quality and speed of the PCs in your office(s) becomes largely unimportant with a hosted virtual server solution as these PCs no long do any significant work.  They just allow your staff to access the cloud server across the internet through a 'virtual desktop' window, and all of the processing is done by the server, not the PCs.

In this way, instead of having to upgrade PC computers every 2-4 years, you could keep using them for 5 or 10 years with no loss of productivity. You could even replace them with the lowest possible specification new machines or even second hand machines when they fail. PC power in businesses just became irrelevant.
For every 10 staff not requiring a $1500 PC, you've just saved $15,000 in capital... 
 
With Leading Cloud's hosted solutions we always use the latest IT infrastructure, so you no longer have to think about 'keeping up' with hardware and software advances.